CNN Host Delivers Tough News to Democrats LIVE on Air
CNN’s Harry Enten provided an in-depth analysis of former President Donald Trump’s standing with the American public, delivering a “reality check” for Democrats who have long dismissed his electoral viability. Enten’s breakdown revealed that Trump’s popularity has risen to levels surpassing several points during his first term—even higher than when he secured re-election in 2024. This trend persists despite ongoing media scrutiny and opposition.
“I think sometimes it’s important to do a little bit of reality check and take a little different spin at the numbers,” Enten remarked during his segment. “I’m going to do that right here because all we talk about is how unpopular Donald Trump is.”
“But in reality, he’s basically more popular than he was at any point in term number one and more popular than he was when he won election back in November of 2024. What are we talking about? His net favorable rating right now comes in at minus seven points; in March of 2017, he was at minus 10 points. So when you compare Trump against himself, he’s actually closer to the apex than he is.”
Enten went on to emphasize a key factor that is often overlooked by the media: pollsters have historically underestimated Trump’s numbers. “Donald Trump, historically speaking, has had his numbers underestimated. So I think it’s very important to compare him to himself to understand he’s actually more popular now than he was when he won or certainly where he was at this point back in his first term.”
“The bottom line is Trump is more towards the ceiling than he is towards the floor.”
For Democrats who expected Trump’s unpopularity to damage the Republican Party’s electoral prospects, Enten’s findings present a challenge. His analysis suggested that, compared to past presidencies, public sentiment toward the nation is more positive under Trump’s leadership.
If Trump’s support has consistently been underestimated in polling, the fact that a substantial number of Americans believe the country is moving in the right direction could provide some insight. A Marist poll found that 45% of respondents think the nation is on the right path—the second-highest figure recorded by Marist since 2009. Similarly, an NBC News survey placed that figure at 44%, marking the highest level since 2004.
By contrast, during Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s administration, only 27–28% of Americans expressed the same optimism. Enten pointed out that these numbers suggest an electoral environment favorable to Trump’s re-election. He also highlighted the Republican Party’s strength heading into the 2026 midterms, citing trends in the congressional ballot that mirror previous GOP victories.
“The bottom line is yes, Donald Trump’s approval rating is lower than compared to a lot of his predecessors, but it’s higher than compared to himself. A lot of folks say the country’s on the right track, and the generic congressional ballot looks a heck of a lot more like when Republicans win than when Democrats win,” Enten concluded.
Enten’s insights should serve as a wake-up call for Democrats. With voters showing increased alignment with Trump’s policies and a Republican-controlled government, the path to reclaiming power may be more difficult than expected. A strong GOP performance in House races, combined with widespread support for Trump’s platform, could make Democratic hopes for a resurgence far more uncertain.